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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I am going to make an earnest attempt to finish the unfinished projects that have been calling to me....

I began this Spiderweb quilt, called Pop Stars by Kathy Doughty , eons ago....

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I can actually see the end in sight....I love how this quilt is coming together and it is no little wisp of a quilt. This one will end up about 75+ inches by 80+ inches. It is a bit smaller that the quilt from Material Obession 2.

My slow progress by no means is a reflection of my attitude towards this quilt....I just get distracted way too easily....

But I am doubling down my efforts and am determined to finish this one soon!

I have also added block 6 and 7 to my Rose and Star Portfolio....

I like how this project is coming together. The happy kitchen-y fabrics are fun.

I have purchased several of the Michael Miller Kitchen Collection fabrics....they fit well with the flavor of this quilt! Get it! Flavor! hee hee.....I should go on the road, right???

And I am having a great time piecing these....they go together much more quickly than the Grandmothers Flower Garden {my other unfinished project}.....oh well....

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

I worked all day {don't you feel bad for me :( } on a tutorial for how I made this block....

So here goes....keep in mind you can change the sizes - you certainly don't have to keep the same size block I made....

I started with a 5.5 inch square...

you need 4 of these to get one star....

In the center we are going to draw lines to make a kite shape {similar to a spiderweb block}. I made a dot 2 inches from the top point on both sides....

Then draw a line from the dot to the point just opposite the top point on the block...

Remember you can cut this block as big or small as you like and you can place the dots where you like as long as you use the same measurement on both sides.

This creates a 'kite' shape in the center....

Next cut your fabric strips. You may cut them all the same width or you can vary the width. I cut mine 1.5 inches.

Cut a strip that will cover you first line and extend some at the beginning and the end....

lay the fabric {right sides facing} edge next to the drawn line on the kite portion of the block....

Using a quarter inch seam allowance stitch from top to bottom....remember the drawn line is not the stitch line...it is just to line up the strip.

Press this strip back...

Take the next strip and place it right sides facing - on top of the first strip - raw edges even....

**Just a note** I am not including that selvedge edge in my stitching...it will be trimmed off. Selvedge edges should be trimmed and not included in your sewing as the tight weave shrinks at a different rate than the rest of your fabric.

Again, stitch this strip and press back...

Continue adding strips until the corner is completely covered...

Flip the block over so the right side is face down on your mat and trim the excess strips of fabric. Use the block as your trimming guide.

Then begin the same process on the other side of the kite...

Line this strip up next to the drawn line and stitch....

Continue adding strips, stitching and pressing until you have this corner covered...

Flip the block over and trim the excess....

Here is what all four finished will look like...

Stitch the top two and the bottom two....then stitch the two halves together....

If you want to use strips of different widths you get something that looks like this....